Rusty Gum Farm is a 70-acre family-run property in the Lockyer Valley, Queensland. We grow and process organic ginger, sell mature ornamental olive trees, and produce small-batch infused honey. Our farm is home to koalas, native bushland, three horses, two alpacas, two Maremma sheepdogs, free-ranging chickens, guinea fowl, and turkeys. We welcome WWOOFers who are keen to learn, help out, and enjoy life on a working farm with a focus on sustainability and community.
We became WWOOF hosts because we value connection — with the land, with meaningful work, and with people who share a curiosity about farming and living more sustainably.
After years working as an ecologist in the city, I developed a deep respect for natural systems and the role people can play in supporting them. My husband, a working paramedic, was keen to come back to his country roots after growing up in the Snowy Mountains. That drive eventually led us to this 70-acre property in the Lockyer Valley, where we’re building a farm rooted in regeneration, resilience, and care for the land. Together, we’re raising two young kids while managing the daily rhythm of farm life — from processing organic ginger and selling mature olive trees to harvesting honey and spotting koalas in the trees around our home.
Becoming hosts felt like a natural extension of our journey. We wanted to create a space where others could come, contribute, learn, and leave with a little more dirt under their nails and a stronger connection to the land. We love sharing what we’ve learned (and are still learning), and we enjoy the exchange of ideas, cultures, and stories that WWOOFing brings. Whether you’re new to farming or already on your own path, we welcome people who want to get involved, ask questions, work hard, and be part of our little patch of the world — even if just for a while.
Organic/Biological methods we use
At Rusty Gum Farm we care for our land, trees, and animals using natural methods. We don’t use chemical sprays or synthetic fertilisers. Instead, we focus on building healthy soil and resilient plants. Some of the practices we use include:
Compost & Mulch – We make and use compost to recycle nutrients back into the soil and apply mulch to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and encourage soil life. We love the hot composting method, using horse and alpaca poo from our own paddocks to feed our plants and vegies.
Natural Fertilisers – We use organic inputs like seaweed solutions and composted manures to feed our plants.
Soil Health First – Healthy soil grows healthy plants. We focus on improving soil structure and biology with organic matter and minimal disturbance.
Weed & Pest Control – Managed by mulching, hand-weeding, grazing rotations, and encouraging beneficial insects instead of chemicals.
Biodiversity – We value diversity on the farm, planting natives and companion plants to attract pollinators and support wildlife.
